I've read several novels and surprisingly, most of the ML is jerk. Moreover, the novels (female lead novels obviously) that are being voted with energy stone had synopsis written with ML being a jerk and/or having mistress all and betray the FL. Tbh, i'm somehow dissatisfied with those typical novels. What made me further dissapointed was the fact that most FL novel in voting list had such story.

Anyone could recommend me some good novels without such thing? I would appreciate slice of life theme novel

    What kind of story does the ml become a jerk? Will you gave an example?

      Well again I already answered a similar question like that so I'm just gonna quote :p Sorry but it's very long and I don't wanna type it again XD

      Well this is a very complex question to answer, but let me clarify a few points first: in real life most relationships aren't like that--at least not in that exaggerating way--but there is indeed a general inclination of ideas like that about relationships and sex. And this inclination does not exist just in China, but also in Japan and Korea too from my understanding, but it's probably more typical and obivious from where I come from. I presumed it's because the cultures of the three countries are to some degree very similar and Japanese and Korean cultures--not meaning to deny the uniqueness of them---were historically under a big and long influence of the Chinese one. E.g. You can also see this phenomenon in the Japanese pornography, especially anime (I guess it's because in anime you can do things you can't in reality), that the male is raping and insulting female repeatedly in ways that are--probably beyond even the "unacceptible" level in western people's eyes--perverted and pathological, while the female was depicted to be a slave to male's sexual ability and her own lust, wanting for more of that shxt.

      If you found using porn as an example here is not very precise, a friend of mine who's fond of Japanese culture showed me once a Japanese reality tv show, where the male is singing in Karaoke to win a high score for a cash prize, while a woman from Kabuki would do a hand job for him, and smile proudly to say how they worship male genitals and how honoured they are to be of service. As for in Korea, I believe not a long time ago, a witness of Jang Ja-yeon case was brought to court to make statements to the judge about the unjust treatment her friend suffered, who was an Korean actress that committed suicide in 2009 after a long period of violent, secret sexual service forced by her company to Korean businessmen and politicians. If you want to know the details maybe just google it, I'm simply too disgusted to list them over here and it will lead me too far away from the topic.

      Back to your orginal question, I guess strict governmental presence seems to contradict with this wantoness in sex (which is more or less the case for all the three countries mentioned), but it will make sense once you think about it: the more you surpress, the more it will repel, and in a way that is unhealthy, and in the extreme case of these 3 countries, whose cultures have been avoiding--even depicating sometimes--sex for hundreds of years, it will be a very stubborn illness.

      However I presume you are more confused about why many women seem to not resist, but even support and enjoy it to some degree--they won't romanticize and normalize it in novels if they don't like it. In my opinion, it is because the influence of that type of gender/sex culture is so profound and vast that it's already imprinted in their heads and they don't even realize it's wrong, and they already built up their self values around it: e.g. they might actually think that by succeeding an abusive relationship with a socially and sexually competent alpha male, they "conquered" a difficult man with their "female charm", and the cruelty of this guy to others (and previously to her) will just add up their confidence of their own..."beauty" or "uniqueness"(and it works especially well when the male is rigid to other women but desired the heroin strongly alone).

      Yep. That's my psychoanalysis of this weird trend in novels∠( ᐛ 」∠)_It's not really CCP's fault--however you take it, chairman Mao showed support of female rights and female presence in the army--and I feel like by publishing those strict bans of sexual contents on novels the government partly intends to stop this trend. But I'm already wordy enough on one subject so let's stop before it turns to a heated discussion about feminism. Besides, it's getting better through time--which is maybe the only way to cure this kind of cultural diseases--and many of younger generations are fighting for it, too. Not everyone is like that. Me, for example :D

        Fiona_Singer I’m happy to have read your insights on this particular subject. I’ve read previous posts of you as well and I’m starting to comprehend why it seems like some woman idolise these abusers. Don’t misunderstand; I don’t share their feelings, I solely begin to understand that their values and upbringing are that different.

        I have never been able to read past the first chapter in such stories, they simply - pardon my language - engross me.

        No matter how handsome, smart or wealthy, an abuser should never be seen as the ultimate romantic fantasy, certainly not by adolescents who are only just discovering attraction.

        Thank you very much for sharing your analysis, it was quite illuminative.

          Sigheti What can I say∠( ᐛ 」∠)_I've been in the game long enough to know stuff, and I actually love to let people know about a more truthful China. I'm currently living and studying in one of the EU countries and I can sense that since we are so different and somewhat more disclosed or isolated than any other country in the world (except for North Korea maybe :p), there are lots of confusions and misunderstandings, especially with the media coverage where the objectiveness is compromised for...well, drama∠( ᐛ 」∠)_I don't feel offended by these confusions (some Chinese find it offensive) because it's just so natural and understandable considering the situation, and many people back in my country have prejudices, too.

          Fiona_Singer wow. Thanks for your throughout explanation. Well, such mindset might be deeply rooted in those societies

            Morbideus Well, there are a lot. But obvious examples are in the voting list that use energy stone

              Sigheti Probably the FL is saint-born. They'll forgive such ML despite his betrayal and wrongdoing.

                TheCabbageLu In addition to Cantiara's suggestions (which I agree with), the following have MLs that are not jerks (maybe cold, but at least not as blatantly abusive as some of the recently-released novels). Most are not slice of life though:

                My Dad is the Galaxy's Prince Charming
                If the Deep Sea Forgets You
                The Beautiful Time With You (but the translator is MIA)
                Fox Life

                If you are interested in some stories that are not on this site, do let me know.

                  TheCabbageLu I agree. Some don’t seem to understand the difference between a nice, compromising character or a character that gets abused. Which I understand could be used in a story as well (for example, escaping a toxic relationship). But - in my opinion - these relationships shouldn’t be portrayed as the ultimate romances.

                  ace_cap i've read the first novel you recommend. It was so hilarious and funny.

                  Well, ML being cold isn't a problem as long as he is not abusive

                    Pizza To attract readers sometimes the author need to add some spice in his story

                      here's a few translated webnovels not mentioned here already -from this website(there are other websites where you can find more stories with ml's who aren't total assholes)
                      Trial Marriage Husband: Need to Work Hard
                      Lady Cultivator

                      and here's another that may or may not be what you are looking for(the ml doesn't cheat on fl and doesn't beat her, he's still problematic in other ways. despite that the story listed below was an enjoyable read)
                      Empress of Another World

                        TheCabbageLu Hey there, have you read Be My Strength or its sequel, The President's Man? No jerky ML, and it's realistic romance.

                          12 days later

                          i want to add rebirth of strongest empress to the list

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